Egyptian actress Maali Zayed was advised by friends to decline all offers to star in any new film until the situation in the region calmed down and became more peaceful. It was noted that most producers, excluding a small handful, had refrained from resuming previously scheduled work until war on Iraq was completely over since the release of any cinematic work at this time is too risky.

According to the UAE based daily, Al Bayan, Maali said that she has the urge to take part in a film that has a meaningful story and is deep turning away from the usual TV series she has been acting in, especially her last TV sitcom (Didi and Doli), which gained her enormous popularity inside Egypt and abroad.

Maali revealed that before the war on Iraq broke, she was in the process of producing a new film "Mademoiselle", which was written by her, but the conditions in the region stopped her from continuing. The story of the film revolves around the social issue of women reaching old age before they ever get a chance to be married. Event in the film will concentrate on how this fear exists in every woman and every family.

The actress expressed that her film will attempt to answer a number of questions and fears. She intends on screening it in cinema houses inside and outside Egypt and is sure of the success it will achieve due to its sensitivity.

Maali’s last film “Anbar Wal Alwan” (Anbar and Colors) was a complete failure not achieving any viewer satisfaction leading her to a state of despair. After the film she decided she would halt all cinematic work and stick to the small screen.

Zayed has been away from cinema performance for a quite long time. She said, “Cinema now faces a crisis of views and topics in addition to the damage which privatization has caused to it. Until the cinema problems are solved I shall continue working for the TV through which I play good roles bearing in mind that 75 percent of the audience watch TV. In the course of my artistic career and those of Laila Olwi, Elham Shahin and many more, the TV has introduced us to the cinema.”

On a different note, the actress had previously intended on dedicating her time completely to finish drawing a collection of her own paintings. Maali plans to hold an art exhibition where she will display all her artwork hoping to add to her artistic career. “This work is one-man’s show while acting is a collective work. It is an idea, which one is responsible for in an attempt to interpret it in the form of symbols or message to be conveyed to the recipient. My first exhibition will include many paintings about hope, Palestine, motherhood, childhood, woman and others,” said Zayed

Ma’ali is currently reading the script for her role in a new film “Fadaih Bi Jalajil” (Scandal) returning to the big screen after an absence that lasted over three years. The film revolves around the life of a schoolteacher who quits her day job to take on the profession of a dancer at a local nightclub, through which she is faced with a number of problems. - Albawaba.com